Manchester City's top-six struggles, Leicester possession and red card records

By Martin Tyler, Football Commentator & Columnist

Martin Tyler brings you his latest teaser from Stramford Bridge

Which top-six side has fared best against their rivals? Is Victor Wanyama on course for a red card record? Who has scored the most opening goals this season?

Martin Tyler has been busy answering your stats, facts and questions this week and has come up with plenty of gems once again.

Plus, don't forget to have a go at this week's Tyler's Teaser!

How to send your questions to Martin:

1: Email your posers to skysportsclub@bskyb.com

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2. Tweet @SkyFootball using the hashtag #TylersTeasers

Martin's starting stat

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Chelsea continued their excellent Premier League record against Manchester United by grabbing a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Super Sunday.

Overall their record reads: P48 W16 D19 L13. That's 67 points out of a possible 144 and they have more wins, points and goals against United in the Premier League than any other club. They are now unbeaten in the last 10 meetings in all competitions against United.

Image: Diego Costa has 29 Premier League goals in 47 appearances, including six goals in seven under Guus Hiddink

Chelsea are still unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions since Jose Mourinho left, winning five of those. But in the Premier League, they have won three of nine since his departure.

Diego Costa played in his first game against Manchester United and scored the late goal; he now has 29 Premier League goals in 47 appearances, including six goals in seven under Guus Hiddink.

Six Blues players - Costa, Willian, Kurt Zouma, Thibaut Courtois, Nemanja Matic and Pedro - are still unbeaten against United with a variety of clubs.

Beating the best

What would a mini league table look like for the current top six? Ben

MARTIN SAYS: Manchester City have not fared well against their current top-six rivals this season, taking just three points from their seven matches so far against Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham.

They have lost their two home games against top-six sides so far - and host Spurs live on Super Sunday. However, City have already played all five away games against other current top-six sides. 

Image: Manchester City have struggled against sides in the top six

Leaders Leicester have accrued the most points (12), but they have also played seven of the 10 possible matches, with a trip to the Emirates coming up this Sunday. They still have to go to United and play West Ham at home.

Arsenal have only played five matches against their top-six rivals but have taken 10 points, beating City, Leicester and United, drawing with Spurs and losing to West Ham.

Both Spurs and the West Ham have picked up eight points from six matches in the 'mini league'. Spurs' two wins have been against West Ham and Man City while the Hammers have beaten Arsenal and City on the road.

United have only won one of their five games against the current top six and that was on the opening day of the season when they beat Spurs. Since then they have drawn with West Ham, City and Leicester, and lost to Arsenal at the Emirates. 

Top-six head-to-head record

P W D L F A Points per game Points
Leicester 7 3 3 1 10 9 1.71 12
Arsenal 5 3 1 1 11 6 2 10
Tottenham 6 2 2 2 10 6 1.33 8
West Ham 6 2 2 2 8 9 1.33 8
Man Utd 5 1 3 1 2 4 1.2 6
Man City 7 0 3 4 6 13 0.42 3

Red card record

Has anyone had more red cards in an EPL season than Victor Wanyama? Joe, Southampton

MARTIN SAYS: Nobody has been sent off more than three times in a Premier League season, so if Wanyama is dismissed again this term he will set an unwanted record.

Before his red against West Ham on Saturday, the Southampton midfielder was sent off against Bournemouth and Norwich this season. He is the seventh player to be sent off three times in one season.

Before that, the most recent player to receive three cards in a season was Sunderland's Wes Brown in 2013/14.

Franck Queudrue received his marching orders on three occasions with Middlesbrough in 2002/03 while current West Ham boss Slaven Bilic and Newcastle's David Batty both notched up three reds in 1997/98.

Blackburn's Craig Short was sent off three times in 2001/02 and Wimbledon midfielder Vinnie Jones was the first player in the Premier League to get a hat-trick of red cards in the 1995/96 season.

Image: Victor Wanyama was sent off on Saturday for a foul on West Ham's Dimitri Payet

Promising start to 2016

Can you tell me who has been directly involved in the most Premier League goals (goals and assists) so far in 2016 and what's the top 10 for the season so far? Max

MARTIN SAYS: Both Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney have been directly involved in eight Premier League goals so far this calendar year.

Aguero has scored seven and assisted one for Manchester City while Rooney has five goals and three assists for Manchester United. Roberto Firmino has also been influential for Liverpool with five goals and two assists while Sunderland's Jermain Defoe has scored six times.

Diego Costa has enjoyed a strong start to the year with Chelsea, scoring four times and grabbing two assists, while West Ham's Enner Valencia has the same record in 2016. Gylfi Sigurdsson has impressed for Swansea with five goals and Tottenham's Dele Alli has scored three and set up two.

When it comes to the 2015/16 season as a whole, Leicester duo Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy lead the way.

Image: Wayne Rooney has been in fine form in 2016

Mahrez has scored 14 goals and set up 10 (24 in total) while Vardy, the Premier League's top scorer, has netted 18 goals and provided three assists (21 in total). Everton's Romelu Lukaku is just behind Vardy with 16 goals but he has provided five assists as well (a total of 21).

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil has contributed to 20 Premier League goals (four goals, 16 assists) followed by Watford striker Odion Ighalo on 17 (14 goals, three assists).

Making up the top 10 are Harry Kane with 16 (15 goals, one assist), Aguero with 16 (14 goals, two assists), Olivier Giroud with 15 (12 goals, three assists), Ross Barkley with 15 (eight goals, seven assists) and Kevin De Bruyne with 14 (five goals, nine assists).

Possession play

I saw that Leicester have not had much possession this season and was wondering what's the average possession for previous Premier League champions? Paul, Ipswich

MARTIN SAYS: If Leicester do win the Premier League this season they would almost certainly do it with the lowest average possession since Opta's records started in 2003/04.

In fact, since 2003/04, no team has won the league with less than 55% average possession - Leicester's current average is 40.9%. The previous lowest is Chelsea's 55.4% in 2004/05, while the highest was achieved by the Blues in 2009/10 when they won the league with 59.7%.

Image: Leicester have made possession count

However, while Leicester have not seen much of the ball, they have made their possession count.

Only West Brom have made fewer passes than Leicester in the Premier League, but the Foxes have the lowest ratio of passes per goal with 178.8. In comparison, their title rivals Tottenham have a ratio of 269.8, Arsenal have 343.9 and Manchester City have 286.1.

Leicester have also made a high percentage of their passes in the opposition half.

Only Manchester City (65.9%) can better the Foxes' 64.9% while Arsenal have had 61.6% and Spurs 58%. The lowest number of passes in the opposition half is Newcastle's 54.7%, followed by Swansea's 54.8% and Stoke's 55.4%.

Front runners

Which team has scored the first goal the most often this season? And who has dropped the most points after scoring first? Mik1989

MARTIN SAYS: The top three sides in the Premier League - Leicester, Tottenham and Arsenal - have scored the first goal on the most occasions this season.

Leicester have opened the scoring in 16 of 25 games, Arsenal in 15 and Spurs in 14.

However, while Leicester and Arsenal have dropped just seven and five points respectively after scoring first, Spurs have dropped 11 points after taking the lead.

Image: Arsenal have been good front runners this season

Liverpool have also struggled to hold onto a lead, opening the scoring in 14 matches but winning just eight of them and drawing the other six.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Southampton have all scored first on 13 occasions, with varying degrees of success at the final whistle.

City have lost just two points after taking the lead (a 4-1 defeat by Spurs), while United have dropped seven points and Southampton have lost 10.

Bournemouth have been fast starters in the Premier League this season but although they have opened the scoring on 12 occasions, they have only won six of those games - drawing four and losing two. They have dropped the most points after scoring first (14) - with Chelsea second (losing 12 points after scoring first in 12 games).

Aston Villa, who are bottom of the table, have only scored first in six matches and they have only won three of those. Norwich, on the other hand, have impressed after taking the lead, winning six of the seven games in which they have scored first.

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